Fantasy Football Week 10 Start Em’/Sit Em’

We are entering the home stretch of the fantasy football regular season , and with the trade deadline looming in most leagues, owners are trying to improve their respective teams in some form or fashion.

Last week, in one of my fantasy leagues, I offered a trade of Reggie Bush and Hakeem Nicks for Doug Martin. Much to my surprise, the other owner accepted. Before the other owner agreed to the trade, Tampa Bay Buccaneers All-Pro left guard Carl Nicks was placed on season ending injured reserve. I decided to cancel the offer even after the owner accepted the trade because Martin ran behind Nicks quite often and I figured Bush and Nicks would combine to score more on a weekly basis than Martin would after losing his best offensive lineman for the season.

Well, after Martin rushed for 251 yards, scored 4 touchdowns, and produced 61 fantasy points for the fortunate owner who benefitted from my stupidity, my belief Martin would be unable to yield more points than Hakeem Nicks and Reggie Bush was incorrect for at least one week.

My point in this cautionary tale is sometimes fantasy owners can outthink themselves. If one believes a player is about to perform well for an extended period, do not let something as miniscule as an injury to a player on his offensive line frighten you from making a bold move. Bush and Nicks would combine to score me 14 points, and I would lose a crucial game by 4 points. Had I proceeded with the deal, I would have won easily. Needless to say, Martin’s owner has been very gracious and surprisingly humble.

If one still believes in my weekly picks after I grossly miscalculated Martin’s ability, you can continue read which players I think will be successful and which will yield a dud in Week 10.

Start em’

QB – Ryan Tannehill vs. Tennessee Titans

The former Aggie might not be cognizant of which teams play in which divisions, but he has surprisingly played well in his rookie season as he has helped lead the Dolphins to a 4-4 record in the first half of the season. Tannehill’s 220 yards passing per game for a team with little talent at wide receiver is very commendable. This week, he faces a terrible Tennessee pass defense which has given up the 2nd most touchdown passes and allowed Jay Cutler to shred them last week for 25 fantasy points. If you’re experiencing bye week blues with Aaron Rodgers this week, pick up Tannehill and enjoy at least 20 fantasy points.

RB – Michael Turner vs. New Orleans Saints

Turner is no longer a burner, but speed is not needed to run through the swiss cheese New Orleans run defense right now. The Ticket’s own Norm Hitzges could run for 100 yards against the Saints while using his trustworthy cane. Turner rushed for 102 yards last week against a decent Dallas run defense, and figures to run for much more this week as the Saints are far and away the worst in the NFL at stopping the run.

WR – Malcolm Floyd vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tampa Bay has allowed a 300 yard passer in 3 of their last 5 games, and is last in the NFL against the pass. Raiders quarterback Carson Palmer threw for over 400 yards last week in the shootout loss to the Bucs. Yes, Carson Palmer. Chargers QB Philip Rivers has disappointed his fantasy owners this year, but he should not have trouble throwing the rock to his #1 receiver this Sunday against Tampa Bay.

TE – Scott Chandler vs. New England Patriots

New England has allowed an opposing tight end to catch a touchdown pass in 4 of their last 6 games, and Chandler caught two of those touchdown passes the last time these two teams played in Week 4. The Patriots are awful against defending the pass. The Dallas native should have some success this week.

K – Justin Tucker vs. Oakland Raiders

The rookie from Texas has been outstanding for Baltimore this year as he is 15/16 on his field goal tries, including kicking 4 from over 50 yards out. Oakland allows lots of points, and Tucker should benefit.

Defense/Special Teams – Pittsburgh Steelers

The Steel Curtain might be aging, but they are just as stifling as they have been in the past as opponents have scored the least amount of points in the league against them. This week, they face the awful Kansas City offense which averages 17 points per game and their quarterbacks have combined to throw the most interceptions in the NFL.

Sit Em’

QB – Jay Cutler vs. Houston Texans

Cutler was excellent last week as he threw 3 touchdown passes and helped the Bears score 51 points against a putrid Tennessee defense. However, that was Tennessee. Houston has allowed the 4th fewest points and they average 3 sacks per game as a unit. When the pocket collapses on Cutler, and he begins to feel pressure from the tenacious Houston pass rush led by J.J. Watt, he will make mistakes.

RB – Jamaal Charles vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

The Steelers are stingy against the run as they have not allowed a team to rush for over 100 yards since Week 3. The Chiefs have not led in regulation once this season as their one win was an overtime victory over New Orleans early in the year. Kansas City will fall behind early and abandon the run.

WR – Sidney Rice vs. New York Jets

The Jets are not a good football team, but their pass defense led by Antonio Cromartie has been superb. New York has only allowed wide receivers to catch two touchdown passes in the last 7 games. The Jets might not win Sunday, but Sidney Rice will not beat them.

TE – Brandon Myers vs. Baltimore Ravens

Oakland will pass the ball often against Baltimore because Darren McFadden and Mike Goodson both appear to be out with high ankle sprains, but I believe Carson Palmer will throw the ball deep more often to Denarius Moore and Darrius Heyward-Bey as Oakland falls behind early to a superior Baltimore team. Myers scored his first two touchdowns of the season last week, but will not carry that success over.

K – Greg Zuerlein vs. San Francisco 49ers

Greg The Leg and the Rams have not scored over 20 points since Week 2. San Francisco is coming off of a bye week and has allowed 8 points per game in their last 5 contests. Zuerlein will not have many opportunities this week as the Rams offense sputters against the Niners defense.

Defense/Special Teams – Atlanta Falcons

Atlanta is the only undefeated team left in the NFL (8-0) after defeating Dallas last week. The Falcons have allowed the 5th fewest points in the league, but they head into the Super Dome this week against a prominent New Orleans offense. The Saints have scored 29 points per game at home this year, and have won 3 of their last 4 games overall after starting the season 0-4. The Falcons will score a lot of points this week, but their defense will also allow a lot as well as Drew Brees continues his quarterback wizardry.